MFA gets ready for holidays with new stocking stuffers

TOLEDO, Ohio — Mark Feldstein and Associates has introduced unique housewares and gifts in time for the holiday season.

MFA said its Plant Pal moisture meter now is available in a snowman variety. Each meter features a moisture-sensing probe that measures moisture at a plant’s root level to help prevent under- or over-watering. The Plant Pal carries a suggested retail price of $11.95;

MFA’s new talking pedometer announces calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken and workout time, as well as a pull-out panic alarm that attracts attention in an emergency. The talking pedometer carries a suggested retail price of $12.95;

To keep warm this season, MFA has introduced an ice scraper mitt. The durable, quilted, insulated ice scraper fabric mitt with attached plastic scraper removes ice and snow from a vehicle while keeping hands warm on cold days. Available in black, red, pink and zebra, the mitt carries a suggested retail price of $10.95;

New gel hand warmers are knitted and feature two reusable gel heat packs that will keep hands warm by simply snappign gel activator disks to warm the heat packs to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Available in snowflake and stripe patterns, the hand warmers carry a suggested retail price of $9.95 per pair;

The handbag hanger keeps a safe and clean securely suspending a handbag from any table edge. Holding up to 33 lbs., the handbag hanger, which includes a miniature picture frame, carries a suggested retail price of $9.95;

The holiday mini-jar glass flameless candle set includes three 2-in. real wax candles in sugar cookie, cinnamon and gingerbread scents. Battery-operated, each candle has an LED light that flickers and glows like a real candle — minus the hazards of an open flame or melting wax. Each set carries a suggested retail price of $9.95; and

The Illuminator LED flashlight AM/FM radio is a no-bulb/no-battery combination flashlight radio that operates on energy stored from the wind-up dynamo. The radio carries a suggested retail price of $19.95.

"With a wide range of trend-setting products, MFA provides the perfect holiday gift-giving solutions for just about everyone," MFA president Mark Feldstein said. "We are constantly striving to develop innovative and affordable products that go way beyond the ordinary."

Catamaran launches new specialty pharmacy brand

Catamaran announced Monday the introduction of BriovaRx, which it said would mark "the beginning of a new day in the specialty sector, delivering personalized, holistic care to patients with complex and chronic conditions to improve health outcomes."

The company said BriovaRx would be the fifth-largest specialty pharmacy in the country and would have the skill and scale to effectively manage costs for health plans and other payers challenged by escalating specialty drug prices and increased utilization. According to the company, specialty plan spending is estimated to grow from 2010’s 18% of total pharmacy costs to 43% by 2020.

"Patients diagnosed with complex medical conditions often face insurmountable challenges to managing their conditions — financially, emotionally and physically," Catamaran chairman and CEO Mark Thierer said. "In contrast to an industry that’s focused solely on the drug, BriovaRx focuses not he patient, ensuring they receive on-on-one support and a personalized plan that addresses all conditions — not just the underlying chronic illness — to help them lead healthy, vibrant lives."

Formerly known as SXC Health Solutions, Catamaran has operated in specialty for more than 15 years, and the new brand replaces the former specialty pharmacy offering, Medfusion/Ascend.

"Since 11 of the 16 most-utilized drugs in the nation are classified as specialty, BriovaRx addresses a growing need in our communities to better manage complex conditions like hepatitis C, cancer, Crohn’s disease, HIV, multiple sclerosis and others," Catamaran SVP pharmacy operations Albert Thigpen said. "BriovaRx provides a support system for the patient and coordinates the efforts of providers and payers to streamline delivery and administration of treatment to ensure a more positive experience for every patient and more time for physicians to focus on care."

Pulitzer Prize-winner Peggy Noonan, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and singer Diana Ross now feature on the schedule for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting, slated for April 21-24 in Palm Beach, Fla.

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